FCC Addresses Service Providers' Petitions for Waiver of Affordable Connectivity Program Rules

The Federal Communications Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau addresses the petitions of USTelecom – The Broadband Association, Verizon, AT&T, and Competitive Carriers Association (CCA). The FCC granted limited waivers of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) rules concerning the requirement that a participating provider allow an eligible household to apply the affordable connectivity benefit to any residential service plan selected by the eligible household (the “all plans requirement”) and non-usage of ACP supported services for which the subscriber does not pay a fee. Specifically, the FCC granted a limited 60-day waiver of the all plans requirement to Verizon and AT&T and a limited 60-day waiver of the non-usage tracking and non-usage de-enrollment rules. The FCC denied AT&T’s petition of the all plans requirement except as otherwise granted, and denied CCA’s petition of the all plans requirement. While the FCC granted a 60-day waiver of the ACP non-usage rules, the agency reminds participating providers that during the waiver period they must continue to comply with the non-usage rules that were in place for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program.